Goldman Sachs Treasurer Elizabeth “Liz” Beshel Robinson — considered a rising star within the Wall Street firm and a candidate to succeed her boss, Chief Financial Officer David Viniar — just held her first audition for the job.

Robinson, who until now has mostly operated behind the scenes of the storied investment bank, took center stage yesterday during a conference call to discuss the firm’s fiscal health, prompted by recent bank downgrades, Europe’s debt crisis and sweeping regulatory reform.

During the 35-minute call that kicked off at noon, Robinson, who along with Viniar fielded questions from analysts and investors, said the bank has significantly bolstered its balance sheet since 2008, and boasted around $170 billion in liquid assets at the end of the second quarter.

“I was impressed with her when I met her,” said Brad Hintz, a veteran bank analyst at Sanford Bernstein. “What I think [Goldman] now is giving her is more limelight.”

Although Viniar hasn’t announced his intention to leave the bank, it’s been an open secret in the firm for a while that the 56-year-old is keen to exit and is just waiting for Wall Street’s unprecedented roller-coaster ride to abate.

More than just a bean-counter, Viniar enjoys the respect of investors and has played an instrumental role helping craft the firm’s business strategy during the financial crisis.

He joined the firm in 1980 as an investment banker after graduating from Harvard Business School and has been CFO since 1999.

Robinson, who is married to Goldman Managing Director Samuel Robinson, shares several similarities with Viniar. Both held the treasurer job and worked their way up the ranks.

Robinson joined Goldman fresh out of college and has been steeped in the firm’s culture.

She earned her MBA at Columbia University at night while still working at the firm.

Ultimately, it may take multiple execs to replace Viniar when he decides to hang it up given the many lines of business that report to him, sources said.